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A double-hearder, featuring Ryan Bingham and Sea Wolf

Grammy & Academy Award winning Songwriter, Ryan Bingham just released his new album, Tomorrowland, and performs, Friday night, October 19 at Union Transfer in Philly. Sea Wolf is on tour in support of their new album, Old World Romance. He plays The North Star Bar on Sunday, October 21. They're both here on Friday, October 12 for an XPN Free At Noon.

Ryan Bingham still maintains a remarkable connection to his roots. Born in New Mexico and raised on the ranches of Texas, the Americana singer-songwriter turned to music, and at 17 learned to play the guitar.

Ryan was 26 when his first album, Mescalito, hit the music scene in 2007. Backed by The Dead Horses' Matthew Smith (drums), Corby Schaub (guitar, mandolin), and Jeb Stuart (bass), Bingham's debut hearkened to his upbringing in Texas. Bingham followed up his debut album with Roadhouse Sun, released in June 2009.

Bingham was featured in the movie, Crazy Horse, which proved to be a major boon to his career. His song "The Weary Kind" garnered him both a Golden Globe and an Academy award for "best original song," as well as a Grammy.

Ten Thousand Villages, with 10 fair trade retail stores in the greater Philadelphia area supports XPN Artist to Watch. Stop by the Ten Thousand Villages table during the Artist to Watch Ryan Bingham Free at Noon, and learn more about the festive holiday decor items and gifts handcrafted by fairly paid artisans around the world. From shining mercury glass to whimsical ornaments to jewelry, scarves, art decor and keepsakes Ten Thousand Villages' holiday items celebrate cultures around the world.

Taking it’s name from the Jack London adventure novel and headed by Los Angeles based singer-songwriter Alex Brown Church, Sea Wolf began recording demos in early 2000 with producer Phil Elk who has worked with The Shins, Band of Horses, and Built to Spill. Sea Wolf was named a WXPN Artist to Watch in 2007. The band's records include Leaves in the River and White Water, White Bloom..

Sea Wolf returned with his new album Old World Romance on September 11, which combines his typical vivid, eloquent imagery and warm acoustic styling. Church chose to write, record and produce Old World Romance primarily alone from his home studio and the album is a departure from the more expansive and less intimate White Water, White Bloom. You can listen to the new album in its entirety on TheKey.XPN.org.

In a time where most country musicians seem as glitz and glam as their pop music counterparts, it's songwriters like Ryan Bingham who remind us that it's not just the hat you’re wearing but the words you’re spilling that make you a country artist. Now on his third proper album, Junky Star, Bingham continues to impress as a songwriter offering a collection of songs that stress his talent with wordplay and emotion.

It's hard not to compare Ryan Bingham to some other Texas troubadour heavyweights. Hints of Joe Ely, Steve Earle and - most notably - Townes Van Zant permeate his Lost Highway records debut Mescalito. This is not to say that he hasn't already developed his own voice, but these songs are just as dusty and heartfelt as his predecessors.

South roots country rocker, Ryan Bingham, has a rough style that encapsulates his life struggles on Texas and New Mexico ranching communities. Though he is still young at 26 years old, his husky voice and mature content makes him appear wise beyond his years.